The 4 Best VPN Providers of 2018

Defend Yourself from Online Threats

By encrypting the data you send and receive from the internet, your personal information is safe from hackers and untraceable by governments and internet service providers. And if that is not enough, you can even log into servers in other countries, and watch all local Netflix content as if you were there. Which is the best VPN of 2018?

You can use this VPN on the following devices

ExpressVPN

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ExpressVPN Review

Pros:

Excellent Speed: ExpressVPN is one of the fastest and most reliable VPN providers in the industry. It is particularly suitable for watching streaming services like Netflix, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Kodi, or for gaming purposes.

Excellent Encryption: ExpressVPN uses the latest and most advanced encryption protocols, making your data secure, untraceable and un-hackable. Even on public Wi-Fi and hotspots you’ll be completely safe.

Excellent Privacy: As the company is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, it falls outside of the reach of US and EU data regulation laws. This means you are fully protected from these governments’ data collection policies.

Great Features: All features you would require are presents, such as its own DNS server making your data safer, and a kill switch that stops your internet connection in case the VPN is interrupted.

Great Server Spread: With nearly 100 servers across all continents, ExpressVPN offers more than enough servers for your to find the perfect one. See the full list here.

Works with P2P and Netflix: ExpressVPN allows you to access peer to peer (P2P) (torrent) networks and it works perfectly with streaming services such as Netflix.

Cons:

High Price: It’s slightly more expensive than some competitors, although you do get a lot of value for your money.

Basic Data Collection: ExpressVPN collects “connection metadata” which means the times you log in and out. This is only used for product optimisation, and they do not store data on your actual online behaviour.

Excellent Privacy: NordVPN is incorporated in Panama, which means your data falls outside of the reach of the US and EU regulators. This means that these governments cannot access your data.

Excellent Simultaneous Connections: NordVPN allows you to connect 6 devices simultaneously to its servers. This is another unique selling point other competitors, outside of Norton, don’t offer.

Excellent Features: All required features are present, such as its own DNS servers, a Kill Switch and Leak Blocking. On top of that, it offers Tor over VPN, an advanced feature which separates NordVPN from its competitors.

Excellent Speciality Servers: NordVPN offers various unique servers. Several for high-speed video streaming, a dedicated connection through the Tor network, one for double encryption and others for torrent and P2P services.

Excellent Device Support: All major operating systems are supported, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and Windows Phone. On top of that, it works with Routers and Gaming Consoles.

Works with P2P and Netflix: NordVPN allows you to access peer to peer (P2P) (torrent) networks and it works perfectly with streaming services such as Netflix.

Cons:

Average Server Spread: NordVPN is not represented in as many countries as its competitors. But still has servers in 58 countries across the globe, with all important regions being represented. See the full list here.

Average Speed: NordVPN is not the fastest VPN in our line-up. It does, however, offer high-speed servers dedicated to video streaming. So make sure to select those when streaming Netflix.

Strongest Encryption

NordVPN

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Norton Wifi Privacy

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Norton Wifi Privacy Review

Excellent Value for Money: Norton WiFi Privacy comes at a great price point and offers one of the best values among its rivals while offering equal levels of excellent protection.

Excellent Speed: Norton WiFi Privacy is one of the fastest VPN in the industry. Particularly suitable for watching Netflix, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Kodi or gaming purposes. If you can find the right server.

Excellent Encryption: ExpressVPN uses the latest and most advanced encryption protocols, making your data secure, untraceable and unhackable. Even on public Wi-Fi and hotspots.

Excellent Simultaneous Connections: Norton allows you to connect 1 to 10 devices simultaneously to its servers. (depending on your package).

Cons:

Some Data Collection: Norton WiFi Privacy collects “connection metadata” which means the times you log in and out. This is only used for product optimization, and they do not store actual online behavior data.

Average Server Spread: Norton WiFi Privacy is not represented in as many countries as its competitors. But still has servers in 28 countries across the globe, and all important regions are represented.

Does not work with P2P and torrenting: Norton WiFi Privacy does not support torrent and P2P network usage due to often illegal trading of material.

Additional Features

Strongest Encryption

Norton Wifi Privacy

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Hide My Ass

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Hide My Ass Review

Pros:

Excellent Support and User Interface: Hide My Ass is owned by AVG, one of the largest cyber security companies in the world. This experience and vast financial resources allow the support and user interface to be simply great.

Excellent Server Spread: Hide My Ass has the widest server spread of all VPNs in our comparison, being present in 190 countries. If you are looking to browse locally in very specific regions, this can be a big selling point.

Works with P2P: With Hide My Ass you can use peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and the popular torrenting services.

Great Speed: Hide My Ass offers excellent speed through its wide range of servers, making it a solid choice for people who want an easy-to-use and fast VPN solution.

Good Price: Although not the most affordable VPN solution out there, it is also not extremely expensive and falls in the mid-range.

Cons:

Average Simultaneous Connections: Hide My Ass only offers 2 simultaneously connections to its servers. Meaning you can only connect two of your devices at the same time.

Limited Advanced Features: Hide My Ass does not offer the ability to change VPN encryption protocols, ad and tracker blocking, and various other advanced features. It is a slick, but basic service.

Does not work with Netflix: After testing through several servers in various regions, Hide My Ass was unable to get Netflix to work.

Additional Features

Strongest Encryption

Hide My Ass

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How to buy the best VPN?

Our digital world is becoming an increasingly dangerous space. Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks leaves you vulnerable to hackers stealing your personal information. Governments and internet service providers collect large amounts of data on you. And if you download through torrent and peer-to-peer networks, you are potentially liable to large fines. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. It originated from large corporations, where there was a need to have remote employees log in to the corporate network in a secure and safe manner. Now, this technology has made its way to the consumer sphere, with the purpose of protecting a consumer’s data and identity, and allowing them to digitally relocate to any country in the world.

In essence, it is a secure, encrypted connection (often metaphorically called a tunnel), to the internet. This connection is created between your computer and a remote server operated by your VPN provider. You then browse the internet through the remote server, rather than directly from your own computer. This offers you various advantages:

Privacy. By encrypting the information you sent to the web, it is hidden from your internet service provider, which is now unable to monitor your internet usage and cap your bandwidth. It is also hidden from governmental bodies such as the NSA which perform large scale surveillance practices.

Security. The encryption of data also allows you to securely access public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots, without hackers being able to steal your private and sensitive information.

Hiding your IP address. When using a VPN, the websites and apps you visit and use will not see your real IP address. Instead, they will see the IP address of the VPN server you are connected to. This adds additional privacy and prevents sites and apps from tracking you.

Digitally relocating. Building on the change in IP address, you can now access Netflix, HBO or BBC iPlayer from different locations in the world, changing the content you see. By logging into Netflix through a VPN server in the US, you will see different content then when logging into Netflix through a VPN server in the UK.

Using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and torrent networks safely. Using the combination of an encrypted data stream and a different IP address, you can safely use P2P networks safely without being endangered of receiving large fines. Do keep in mind, that not all VPN providers allow you to use torrent networks as it very often entails the illegal downloading of content.

How to use a VPN?

Although it is a technically complex product, using a VPN is luckily very simple. Once the VPN software is downloaded and installed on your PC, Mac, Tablet or Smartphone, you simply log into the software and select a server location. This location can be in your own country or, if you desire to access information as if you were in a different part of the world, in a country of choice.

And it is a simple as that. Your information is now encrypted and secure. And you can freely browse the web from any virtual location you like.

It is also possible to install your VPN on your media streaming device (such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick). This can be done by installing it on the device, or look for a VPN option in your device’s settings. Finally, some routers support VPNs as well, allowing you to secure all your devices that connect to the router.

Do keep in mind that there is often a speed penalty involved in using a VPN. Meaning that your download and upload speed decrease, and because of it, websites, movies and other content load and respond slower.

Who needs a VPN?

If you frequent coffee houses, hotels, airports or other locations where you access public Wi-Fi hotspots, a VPN service is perfect for you. By using a VPN, your data is encrypted from anyone else on the public Wi-Fi. Meaning that hackers are unable to observe your browsing behaviour and steal your sensitive information.

If you live in a country where online content in streaming services such as Netflix, HBO, Kodi or BBC iPlayer is limited or unavailable, a VPN is also a great option for you. By using a VPN you log into a country of choice and use the service as if you were actually in that region, giving you access to all the local content.

If you use peer-to-peer or torrenting services, you are vulnerable to receiving large fines. By encrypting the data you share and receive online, you protect yourself from these fines. Do keep in mind, that not all VPN providers allow you to access peer-to-peer file sharing services and can cancel your subscription because of it. So make sure to read the terms and conditions from your VPN provider before purchasing.

How to choose a VPN?

There are a variety of factors to take into consideration when buying a VPN service. Although the price is important and does vary, there are other things to look out for: Performance, encryption protocols, features, logging, support, server locations, interface, payment methods and the reputation of the provider are among these. And although there are free VPN services out there, these offer significantly fewer features, server locations and slower upload and download speeds.

Performance: Performance means the speed with which you can browse, upload and download while using a VPN service. And these do vary. It is sadly impossible to accurately test and compare all speeds from all providers, as these use 100’s of locations and 1000’s of servers, which in combination with your own location and internet speed, give unique results. That being said, the VPN providers in our line-up have consistently proven to be among the fastest in the industry.

Encryption Protocols: There are two protocols to look out for. PPTP, which stands for Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol, and OpenVPN. The first, PPTP, is the most widely used protocol. However, it is less stable and secure than the latter, OpenVPN. This open source protocol uses TLS and SSL as a key exchange and relies on user authentication through key codes, certificates, user names and passwords as advanced security measures. It is considered to be the most secure protocol in industry, and superior to PPTP.

Features: Feel free to ignore bandwidth. It is one of those features that VPN providers like to market as “unlimited bandwidth” which simply means that there is enough capacity to upload and download files swiftly and without limit. This is a feature that every provider will offer. A more interesting one to look out for is the Kill Switch. This means that your internet connection will be stopped as soon as the VPN connection is interrupted, making sure you are never without protection.

Logging: Logging means the collection of data on your online behaviour by the VPN provider. This is the exact opposite of what you aim to achieve by using a VPN service. Yet some VPN providers actually collect this data. If connected to your payment information, such as your credentials on your credit card, this allows the VPN providers to create very accurate user profiles on you in the moments you think you are most protected. So be on the look out for this and check the privacy policy of your provider.

Support: Support comes in many forms, such as live chat, knowledge base, tutorials, email, phone, ticket and more. Some offer 24/7 support where others don’t, and not all response times are equal.

Server locations: The server locations of your VPN determine the countries where you can log into, in order to digitally re-locate to that region. Nearly all VPN providers use a large number of server locations, and it really depends on your needs whether this is a crucial factor to look for. A server close to you could help you improve load speeds. And if you’d like to load specific content from very specific regions, it is wise to check up on these locations before making a purchase.

Payment methods: If you are looking for true anonymity with no possibility of tracing your online behaviour back to you, it could be wise to choose an anonymous payment option such as BitCoin, retail gift cards or Paypal, over a credit card.

All Set

With the information above you are good to go to select the best VPN from our comparison. Get award winning protection today, and stop worrying about your online security.

Disclaimer: VRML is not a VPN or Antivirus provider. We do not endorse the use of any featured products for illegal purposes. Users are personally responsible to adhere to the terms of service and applicable laws. Although we only link to highly reputable websites, we do not control these websites and your use of them will be subject to its terms and conditions. As a comparison website, we are supported by advertising, which means we may be compensated for featuring certain products and providers. Our aim is to keep all information as up-to-date and accurate as possible, but cannot guarantee it will always be this way.